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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

WE ARE ALL EQUAL: CARMEN CARRERA & MONICA BEVERLY HILLZ SPEAK OUT ON TRANSPHOBIC SLURS USED ON "RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE"

LGBT television network LOGO has been a positive staple in helping the gay community have a positive voice & with it's very popular show Rupaul's Drag Race it has brought much success. Over the past season their has been a few contestants that have come out as being transgender women & they all were immediately embraced with love & support. Late last month Drag Race received negative press when during a mini-challenge called "Female or She-Male" that contestants where asked to look at a few cropped photos & figure out if it was a naturally born women or a she-male. While many may see no harm, the beautiful women of the transgender community feel as though the term "she-male" is completely disrespectful in more ways then one. In their defense both RuPaul & the producers of the show released a statement about the very sensitive topic.

Get all the details after the jump.

"We delight in celebrating every color in the LGBT rainbow. When it comes to the movement of our trans sister & trans brothers, we are newly sensitized & more committed than ever to help spread love, acceptance & understanding."

Two popular former contestants of the show who are transgender women Carmen Carrera & Monica Beverly Hillz have spoken out publicly about the transphobic remarks that were made on the show that helped bring them to universal fame. A few days ago Carrera posted a status via her facebook account about the topic saying:

"Some of you guys asked me to make a comment so here it goes...Although I am certain RuPaul's Drag Race didn't mean to be offensive, let this be a learning experience. I think the show has opened up and educated the minds of many people who were ignorant to the world of drag and has made equality and respect a possibility for those involved, not only as equal beings but as phenomenal artists. There has always been a huge presence of trans artists in the drag scene. "Shemale" is an incredibly offensive term, and this whole business about if you can tell whether a woman is biological or not is getting kind of old. We live in a new world where understanding and acceptance are on the rise. Drag Race should be a little smarter about the terms they use and comprehend the fight for respect trans people are facing every minute of today. They should use their platform to educate their viewers truthfully on all facets of drag performance art. #SheHasSpoken"

Monica also opened up about her issues about the use of the "she-male" word & how it affects the transgender community more then many people know or realize. She had the following to say:

"After my experience of being on the show, I would say that, to me, the use of the words "she-male," "ladyboy" and "tranny" are not cute at all.

I have fought, and still am fighting, for respect from society -- to be accepted as a woman and not referred to as a "tranny" or "she-male."

People don't understand the daily struggle it is to be a transgender woman. Some days are great and some days I can't be around anyone because I have so much anxiety, so much on my mind and just feel alone in this world.

After being on TV and coming out, it is very difficult to live a normal life. So when you see a show that you look up to and have been a part of, it kind of sucks hearing them use those words.

I will say that RuPaul and the entire cast and production team were amazing. To this day they still check up on me, so for that I am forever grateful.

However, maybe some things need to be changed about the show, because it's not just a drag show anymore. We have beautiful transgender cast mates paving the way for all transgender showgirls."